NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jennifer Anderson/Mara Rubino
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/04/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Northwestern State University will hold a faculty recital featuring soprano Phyllis Seigler and pianist Nikita Fitenko Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The recital will be the first time Seigler and Fitenko, have collaborated together. Seigler will sing four groups of songs in English, Latin, French and Italian. The first group consists of Franck's "Panis Angelicus," Bach's "Quia Respexit (Magnificat)," Verdi's "Ave Maria" from Otello and Mozart's "Alleluia (Exultate Jubilate)."

The second group, written by lyrical composer Rochberg, comes from the Bible's Songs of Solomon.

"Rochberg has never been performed in Natchitoches before," said Seigler, an associate professor of music at NSU. "I've been anxious to do it for many years because it has such pretty melodies."

Seigler, accompanied by Fitenko, will then perform four compositions by Debussy including "Fetes Galantes," En Sourdine," "Claire de Lune" and "Fantoches."

This recital "is a way of bringing a message, hopefully relevant to us all, through music," said Seigler. "Singing brings life in from my heart."

The last group of songs includes "Ain't it a Pretty Night" and "The Trees on the Mountains" by Floyd. These are two major arias from the musical Susannah. Seigler is looking forward to singing these songs because she and Floyd are both natives of South Carolina.

Fitenko expects "a very good recital." Seigler "will sing works from different musical periods and styles which is always more interesting," he said.

The performance is a "gift to the community and an example to students as to what they are working toward," said Seigler.

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